Vik Barodia of Glass’s answers Barker’s Dozen

1. What was your first job? Selling shoes in Freeman, Hardy and Willis in Romford. After graduation, it was a purchasing job at Ford Motor Company.

2. What was your first company car? A Ford Mondeo 2.5 V6 Estate – a far cry from my first car, which was a white Ford Cortina.

3. What did you listen to on your last car journey? Prince, Greatest Hits – a legend.

4. What one thing do you wish you could do better? I wish I could swim!

5. What’s your biggest achievement? I always wanted a big house in the country. I live in the country now after being brought up in Essex, but I’m still working on the big house bit!

6. Who are your role models? My parents. In my eyes, no one ever worked harder to provide for their children. It was never easy.

7. What’s the stupidest thing you’ve done? Travelling in a car around a roundabout in reverse – not clever, although thankfully I was not the driver. I was 18 and was impressed with the driver’s skills.

8. What was the most hotly debated topic at your last meeting? The ambition of car dealers. Nearly all of them need professionalising, and have so few tools at their disposal to make that massive step. We debated how Glass’s could become progressive and help customers do so.

9. What’s in your garage? A 1999 Lexus IS200, the most reliable car I have ever owned. And a 2006 Audi A3 Sportback.

10. What’s the worst thing about your job? Too many meetings! I now have to block out desk time in my calendar. It’s never a 9-5 job, but I do feel like I make a difference, which makes it one of the best things too.

11. What one law would you make or change? MoT tests after three years seems ridiculous in today’s age. Many cars under two years old have in excess of 70,000 or 80,000 miles. We need to reduce it to two years, or better still, a mini-MoT every six months after the first year.

12. What keeps you awake at night? Paying my mortgage.

13. Who is your ideal celebrity date? I’ve a soft spot for women that make me laugh. Lisa Snowdon who does the radio show on my drive to work is hilarious and has my kind of humour. Sassy and funny. My kind of date.